London-bound plane carrying more than 200 people crashes after takeoff in India

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An Air India passenger plane carrying more than 200 people crashed Thursday after taking off from an airport in the Indian city of Ahmedabad.

Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, told The Associated Press. There were 232 passengers and 12 crew members onboard the flight.

“With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,” Air India Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran wrote on X.

Local media showed smoke billowing from the crash site near the airport in northwestern India.  

Firefighters work at the site of an airplane that crashed in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, on Thursday, June 12, 2025.  (AP/Ajit Solanki)

“At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families. We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted,” Chandrasekaran added.

London’s Gatwick Airport also wrote on X that “We can confirm that flight AI171 that crashed on departure from Ahmedabad Airport today was due to land at London Gatwick at 18:25.”

An Air India airlines jet. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X that rescue teams have been mobilized, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support at the site.

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“We are on highest alert. I am personally monitoring the situation,” he said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.  

Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues, and much more.